Reversing edge for gates



Nov. 14, 1967 L. P. METZ I REVERSING 'EDGE FOR GATES Filed July 8. 1965 United States Patent 3,352,059 REVERSING EDGE FOR GATES Louis P. Metz, Abington, Pa., assignor to Guilbert, Incorporated, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed July 8, 1965, Ser. No. 470,465 14 Claims. (Cl. 4927) This invention relates to reversing edge for movable gates or panels which is particularly suitable for the vertically movable gates or panels employed with elevators and the like.

The hazards involved in connection with an elevator gate striking a person are well known. It has heretofore been proposed, for electrically operated gates, to employ a compressible section or member extending across the full width of the gate and suspended below the gate panel. In most of these devices there are one or more electrical contacts directly carried thereby or incorporated therein which are caused to open an electrical circuit upon compressing of the reversing edge. The connection of Wires to such edge introduce serious design and maintenance problems.

It has also heretofore been proposed to employ rigid suspended collapsible members to accomplish the same purpose, but such members are easily damaged when struck by trucks, and may still cause personal injury.

In accordance with the present invention, which obviates the objectionable features of the structures heretofore available the electrical switch for stopping or reversing circuit control is placed at a fixed location where it is free from tampering and is responsive to a movable pressure sensitive reversing edge.

In accordance with the invention, also, a pressure sensitive edge is provided for movable doors and panels, and carried thereby, which is of such character as to be free from likelihood of causing injury to persons coming into contact with it and the electrical switch for stopping or reverse circuit control is external to the edge and at a fixed location.v

In accordance with the present invention, also, a pressure sensitive reversing edge is provided which is simple in construction and reliable in operation.

In accordance with the present invention, also, a pressure sensitive reversing edge for movable gates and other panels is provided in which a switch actuating cable is employed with respect to which the gate or other panel is movable, the cable being presented at the door edge for switch actuation and being adjustable as required.

In accordance with the present invention, also, a sensitive reversing edge for movable gates and other panels is provided having a sheath with a movable switch actuating cable therein, the direction ofmovement of the cable being such that the friction attendant upon deformation thereof aids in operating and provides faster response of the electrical contact for control.

Other objects and advantageous features of the inven tion will be apparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of a gate opening of an elevator shaft and a gate having the reversing edge of the present invention thereon, parts being broken away to show the details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 44 of FIG. 1; and

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FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in which the invention is illustrated in a specific embodiment and environment, a portion of a vertical wall 10 of an elevator shaft is shown having an opening 11 therein with respect to which a gate panel 12 is vertically movable on vertical guide rails 14 and 15. The gate panel 12 has guides 16 slidable on the rails 14 and 15. The opening 11 has a floor 17.

The gate panel 12 has a bottom rail 20, secured thereto in any desired manner. The rail 20 has extending therebelow a clamping channel 22 held in position with respect to the rail 20 by side bars 23. Bolts 24 extend through the side bars 23 and rail 20 and bolts 25 extend through the side bars 23 and engage the flanges 26 of the channel 22.

Gate legs 27 and 28 at the ends of the rail 20 extend downwardly for engagement with the floor 16 and limit the downward movement of the gate panel 12. The legs 27 and 28 can have cushioning pads 29 at their lower ends.

A sheath 30 of rubber, plastic or other flexible ma terial, U shaped when mounted, is held between the bars 23 and the flanges 26 of the channels 22 by the bolts 25. The lowermost margin of the sheath 30 is preferably above the horizontal plane of the lowermost parts of the cushioning pads 29.

At a fixed location at the lower part of the opening 11, and conveniently on one of the vertical gate panel guide rails such as the rail 15, a cable anchor bracket 32 is mounted for engagement by an eye bolt 33 and nut 34. One end of a cable 35 is secured to the eye bolt 33. The nut 34 permits of adjusting the tension to take up slack and also of adjusting the zero setting.

'The gate leg 28 is of hollow or channel construction with a vertical plate portion 36, parallel to the main plane and of the gate panel 12, on which an upper cable sheave 37 and lower cable sheave 38 are rotatably mounted on sheave shafts 39 and 40, respectively.

The gate leg 27 is also of hollow or channel construction with a vertical plate portion 41, parallel to the main plane of the gate panel 12, on which a cable sheave 42 is rotatably mounted on a sheave shaft 43.

" At a fixed location at the upper part of the opening 11, and conveniently on the other vertical gate panel guide rail 14, a vertical angle frame 45 is secured in position in any desired manner, such as by bolts 46 through one of its flanges 47.

.The frame 45 has pivotally mounted on one side thereof,

on a pivot pin 48, a switch actuating lever 49. The cable 35 extends from the eye bolt 33 up and around the upper cable sheave 37 and down and around the lower cable sheave 38, across the lower end of the gate panel 12 'below the rail 20 and close to the bottom of the interior of the sheath 30 as at 35a, then around the sheave 42 and upwardly to one end of the lever 49. The lever 49 has clamp plates 50' and 51 at one end between which the cable 35 is held in clamped engagement by a bolt 52.

A spring 53 connected at one end to a rib 54 on the frame 45 and at the other end to the lever 49, urges the lever 49 in a predetermined direction and preferably such as to tend to tighten the cable 35.

A microswitch 55, mounted on the flange 47 of the 3 frame 45, has an operating pin 56 for engagement and movement by an actuating arm 57 carried by the lever 49. The microswitch 55 is included in any well known type of gate controlling circuit, such circuits with reversing components not forming in themselves any part of the present invention. I I

The mode of use will now be pointed out.

As the gate panel 12 movesupwardly, from the position shown in FIG, 1, thecable 35 moves on theshcaves 3'7, 38'and 42, and'is transferred from the left to the right side.

Upon downward movement of the gate panel 12, returnin'g toward the position shown in FIG. 1, the cable 35 again moves on the sheaves 37, 38 and 42, and is transferred fromright to left.

During movement of the gate. panel 12, the horizontal portion 35a of the cable 3-5 within the sheath 39 and close to: the sides and bottom of the interior of the sheath 30 is susceptible to movement, upon deformation of the sheath 30', whether from below, or from either side, or obliquely from below. The deformation acts to move the cable 35 and such movement of the cable 35 acts on the lever 49 to pull downwardly the end thereof to which the cable 35 is attached and the actuating arm 57 on the other end of the lever 49 is effective to actuate the operating pin 56 of .the microswitch 55. The direction of movement of the cable 35 in the sheath 30 is such that the friction produced by the moving cable 35 engaging the sheath 30 upon deformation of the sheath 3!) assists in operating the lever 49 thereby giving a faster response to deformation when the gate panel 12 is in motion.

The switch 55, as previously indicated, is included in a conventional door motion controlling circuit which in a well known manner can have provisions for causing the door, if moving downwardly to reverse its movement and move upwardly so as to be retracted from the person or article with which the sensitive edge of the gate panel has contacted.

By adjustment of the positions of the eye bolt 33 by the nut 34, and consequently through the cable 35, the position of the lever 49 the actuation of the switch 55 can be varied as to its zero adjustment, as well as to avoid undesired slack in the cable 35. p U

I, ,It will thus be seen that structure has been provided which is eflective for attaining the objects of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a wall having an opening at a fixed location and a panel mounted for movement transversely with respect to the opening, the means for controlling the positioning of the panel comprising a flexible sheath mounted on a" horizontal edge of the a movable controlling cable having. an end portion fixedly mounted with respect to said opening,

a control member at a fixed location with respect to said opening and having a movable operating portion,

a member actuatings'ai'd movable operating portion to which another end portion of the cable is connected, said cable having an intermediate portion extending horizontally within said flexible sheath and deflectable in response to deformation of said sheath, and guide members for said cable carried by said panel whereby said cable is transferable with respect to said 7 panel upon. movement of, said .pan'el.

2,1 The combination defined in claim '1 in which said, member actuating said control member is a lever.

3. The combinationdefined in claim 2 in which said lever has a resilient member connected for urging said lever in one direction,

4. The combination defined inclaim 2 in which of its fulcrum for urging said lever in one direction, and

said lever has said cable connected on the other side of its fulcrum for urging said lever in an opposite direction.

5. The combination defined in claim I in which said guide members are sheaves carried onsaid panel.

6. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said flexible sheath is U-shaped and is secured to the lower part of said panel.

7. The combination defined in claim 8 in which said guide members are sheaves and are carried on leg portions extending downwardly from said panel, and

said flexible sheath extends horizontally between said leg portions.

8. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said control member is an electric switch.

9. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said cable is adjustably connected at one of its ends for varying the zero adjustment of said cable.

10. The combination defined in claim 1 in which one end portion of said cable is mounted at one side of said opening and the other end portion is mounted at the opposite side of said opening.

11. In combination with a fixed wall and a panel mounted for movement transversely with respect to said wall,

of panel edge contact responsive control means for said panel,- 7

said means including a flexible sheath extending along an edge of the panel,

a tension cable extending along the interior of said sheath and subject to deflection upon deformation of said sheath,

and mounting members at fixed locations on said wall for the ends of said cable, I

one of said mounting members" being adjustable for a varying the longitudinal position of saidcable,

one of said mountingmemb'e'rs having a door control device associated therewith, and

guides are provided on said panel for said cable whereby said cable is transferable with respect to said panel upon movement of said panel. I

12. The combination define-d in claim 11 in which said door control device includes a lever to which said cable is connected, and

said lever has a resilient member connected thereto in o'pposed relation to said cable.

13. The combination defined in claim 12 which said door control device includes a switch actuator actuated by said lever. I v

14. The combination defined in claim 11 in which said fixed wall is vertical, and

said panel is mounted for vertical movement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1936 rene 19: 7

5/1946 Kbm "@9 21 9/1961 Ge'ssell -188 x DAVID J. vnLnAMowSKY, Primar Ex miner. E A i a E qmini re 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A WALL HAVING AN OPENING AT A FIXED LOCATION AND A PANEL MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSELY WITH RESPECT TO THE OPENING, THE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE POSITIONING OF THE PANEL COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE SHEATH MOUNTED ON A HORIZONTAL EDGE OF THE PANEL, A MOVABLE CONTROLLING CABLE HAVING AN END PORTION FIXEDLY MOUNTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID OPENING, A CONTROL MEMBER AT A FIXED LOCATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID OPENING AND HAVING A MOVABLE OPERATION PORTION, A MEMBER ACTUATING SAID MOVABLE OPERATING PORTION TO WHICH ANOTHER END PORTION OF THE CABLE IS CONNECTED, SAID CABLE HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY WITHIN SAID FLEXIBLE SHEATH AND DEFLECTABLE IN RESPONSE TO DEFORMATION OF SAID SHEATH, AND GUIDE MEMBERS FOR SAID CABLE CARRIED BY SAID PANEL WHEREBY SAID CABLE IS TRANSFERABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID PANEL UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID PANEL. 